Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-05

surface and gave their leaves to be kissed
by the brook, as the voice of the katydid-
most persevering of accusers = mingled
with the soft chorus of other insect har-
mony. The night was moonless, but it
seemed as if the summer twilight was still
suspended in the soft air. They saw ev-
erything distinctly. As they came ont
upon the rim of the meadows the whole
surface was alight with the tremulous
CLEAN of the fre-fies The delicate iilu-
mination came and went in fitful pulsa-
sIons OF flame over the bending grasses,
now darkening as if the wind had blown
them out, then flashing up again like a
prairie fire in the far West, rising and fall
| ing upon the breath of the blast.
| The girls stood gazing, almost forgetting
their peril, when some objects appeared to
grow out of the darkness, and before they
had time to be alarmed they were startled
| by the neighing of horse. They were
| coming into camp on the side where the
horses were picketed, and the animals
were no doubt guarded at night, perhaps
by an Indian. Again they shrunk into the
shadows. and, with some delay, reached
the lines of the camp at another point
Here they awaited the footsteps of the
sentinel, and when he had passed they
glided into the enclosure and looked about
them. Not living thing stirred, but
lights were visible in few tents With a
strong pressure upon the arm of her tremb-
ling companion to enforce caution, Fay
drew her 10 the front of one of the lighted
tents, and slightly opening the curtain
both looked in. A lamp was suspended
from the center, and its light fell upon
rude plank table, on which were spread
some maps and papers. There was no
| other furniture A pie of rough blankets
in one corner was probably tue soldiers
bed; but its owner was evidently not
thinking of sleep. He was following the
| lines on the map before him, pencil in
hand, sometimes marking character upon
the margin, sometimes referring to a book
or memoranda which lay beside the map.
He was not, perhaps, handsome man.
A compact, medium sized figure, indicating
strength and self-possession in every mo-
ton. His hair and beard were brown. He
had fearless, direct and honest eyes, and a
firm mouth. Amber looked at him, her
soul absorbed in that long look. How
well she knew each line of face and figure
How dearly familiar the movement of the
hands and the setting of the white teeth
over the lip in deep thought Each slight
gesture stirred within her host of memo
ries.
1t might have been five minutes or
half an hour-she could not tell-that she
Stood when he was moved by that subtle
consciousness of the presence and observa-
ton of another, even il unseen, which is
one of the profound mysteries of our be-
ing, as real as it is inexplicable. He arose
quickly and threw aside the curtain, and
the parted lovers stood face to face
The girl was as quiet as a statue, her eye
| meeting his steadily; but over his face
passed swift change. His eyes dilated :;
he grew white, even to the lips; he raised
| hand as if in ehtreaty Amber grasped
it in both her own, though chilled by his
strange manner. The warm touch seemed
to reassure him. He drew her within, and
his arms embodied her.
Amber Desmonde alive, not dead 0,
thank God thank God ~
He placed her in the only seat the tent
afforded and knelt down by her side His
explanation was simple. The widow of
Desmonde had indeed sent to him, but it
was to say that Amber had died soon after
her father Life held nothing for him,
then, but his duty to his country. The
widow had well calculated that his grief
would cause him 10 avoid ANYTHING con-
nected with his lost love; and she trusted
to the uncertainties of war to prevent his
! learning anything that might betray her.
The lovers wasted no thoughts upon her
now that they were reunited. The dreary
days were over. Above their future hung
the lowering war clouds, but the sun of a
great peace was in their hearts. The rap
ture of that meeting was worth all the dark
past had cost. To the two who saw her
that night Amber Desmonde had never
appeared so beautiful. Her fair cheeks
glowed as the warm blood mounted to
them, her whole face seemed TRANSPORTED
IL ~ ;o,- Of bar baart ITar oornnapiop
true to the instincts of her race, had glided
into the shadow, where, motioniess, she
watched, herself unheeded.
each other" she unused. This man
worships this woman. He is not too proud
to show it. 1t makes her so happy. With
US wife is only slave. She casts her
heart at her husbands feet, and he will not
say that he loves her," A surge of tears
rolled up in the bright dark eyes at the
thought; but she dashed them away, say
ing to herself, " 1t is the way of our people
1t is best" Deep was the regret of the
lovers that they could not share the fort
unes of the war together but the moving
camp was no place for a lady. Amber as
sured her betrothed that she would be cared
for, and that her life among the Onondagas
would be happy one, until he could claim
his bride from the hand of the good On
davuka.
Time passed all too swiftly. The silent
watcher saw the tree tops. stir with the
breeze accompanying the coming dawn,
and came over and touched Amber upon
the shoulder, with a word of warning.
She was no signing Juliet-this selt-con-
trolled high hearted girl. She arose
quickly, and turning 10 Fay, in few heart
felt words. told her betrohed how much
II, 10 har iSb 70 Thorn
safe home was negatived by both. Each
knew that the secret had better be kept
Amber's from madame, Fay's from her peo-
pie. Hubert and Amber clasped hands at
the door, and looked into each other S stead
fast eyes, little knowing how long that
parting was to be. But, at a signal from
Fav, the two persons vanished amid the
shadows, and their footsteps gave no sound.
Ainslie stood bewildered in his tent. feel
ing almost as if he had been visited by a
vision of the night.
At the time of this nocturnal visit to the
camp Onday uka and the more prominent
men of the tribe. with the Seneca, had
been absent ut "A great council held at The
Castle" OF the Oneidas. When they re-
turned the usual leasting and good fellow
ship was enjoyed. II caused slight ripple
upon the dead level surface Of the society
of an Indian village, and was very pleas
ing to the Young Of both sexes. Thistle
down was in Wild spirits; indeed, itscemed
as if she had walked on air since the happy
termination of Amhcr's sorrows. Perhaps
she hardly knew how greatly her jealous
spirit had been soothed by the certainty
that her friend was likely to be claimed by
a favored lover at a time not very far dis
tant
Meantime theSeneca was much attracted
by the white girl. She seemed so friend
less, except for her Indian friends, he may
have believed that her hand might be OBJ
tanned from Ondayuka if asked, as re-
ward for some great service during the war.
As nodesty was not with him weakness,
he fully believed that should he so ask he
would obtain it. Preoccupied as she was,
Amber hardly noticed the young athlete,
who knew his own good points, and did "a
great deal of fine dressing and posing for
her benefit lie became very acceptable to
madame, from bis frequent presents of
game and fish. She was well aware of the
meaning of these substantial tokens on the
part of an Indian brave. Still, they were
50 very convenient that she did not think
it necessary to mention the subject TO
her step. daughter. But if Amber was
unconscious Of his presumption, she
could not misunderstood the jealous
| anger Of Fay. She was sorely an
moved ard troubled. Had she known
more of the Indian character she would